Desperate search for Scottish tourist missing after 'jumping from Prague party boat'

An appeal has been launched to find a missing Scottish tourist after he vanished from a party boat in Prague.

The 29-year-old was reported to have jumped off a boat party in the early hours of Sunday April 27 in Prague, Czech Republic.

The man, identified as Joop Sparkes from the Scottish Borders, jumped off the boat around 1am and has not been seen since. His girlfriend wrote on a Prague Facebook group for tourists asking anyone with information to come forward to help the local police with their search.

"My boyfriend Joop went missing early hours of Sunday April 27. Around 12:30/1am. He was on board the boat that leaves from the President Hotel Prague."

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"On way back to the port he alleged to have jumped off to go for a swim and not been seen since. Police are aware.

"If anyone has any information or has seen him please call 158 get in touch.

"Family really worried. He possibly had swam back to shore and no one has seen him so he could be anywhere.(sic)"

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His girlfriend mentions that the Police had called all local hospitals, with no luck and that they will be making posters as soon as possible. Charley updated everyone on social media this morning, saying "Unfortunately we have no more information at this time. The police are still doing a big investigation."

A spokesperson for the Czech Republic police told the Express.co.uk: "I can confirm that since early Sunday morning the Prague police have been searching for a 29-year-old foreigner who, according to the announcement, jumped from a party boat near the Charles Bridge in Prague 1 and has not been seen since.

"In the place where the missing person was last seen, several search operations took place, in which policemen from the river department were also involved, but the foreigner has not been found anywhere yet."

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